Loaches Online Forum

I have a castle (yes, a castle ....I've since learned that they are not cool) that my loaches hide in. But, they are growing so much that I'm afraid they are going to get stuck. I want to arrange some better and safer hiding places, but I just read on a post on another website that one fish's hiding place is not another fish's hiding place. So, I would appreciate any suggestions.

I would not worry that growing loaches will get stuck. They are not going to explode in size incredible hulk style while hiding in the castle. They are pretty maneuverable fish and can get themselves in and out of amazingly tight spaces with ease.

Accidents do happen and I would rather be safe than sorry too.

Someone recently posted on pvc tubing.

I have some coconut shell halves in my tank. I leave them almost face down with a stone or something propping them up a little. That way they seem a little more like hiding spots--not so open.
Others on this forum use new, clean terra cotta flower pots.

I, too use coconut shell halves, covered with java moss. Everyone likes them, and I use a screwdriver to chip away an entrance.

fishnose wrote:I, too use coconut shell halves, covered with java moss. Everyone likes them, and I use a screwdriver to chip away an entrance.

Today, I opened up two coconuts to make more caves. I thought I'd make entrances in these caves, and I broke my husband's coping saw blade in the process. Oh well, next time I'll try the screwdriver.
I managed to get three openings finished before the tool broke.
At least coping saw blades are not too expensive, and my husband is a sweetie.

Real cocunut shells? How do you clean them up? Will they change the water parameters? Would the terra cotta change the water parameters?

Barb wrote:Real cocunut shells? How do you clean them up? Will they change the water parameters? Would the terra cotta change the water parameters?

I don't know how the shells or terra cotta affect the water parameters, but I think the shells might make the water a little more acidic. I think I read that somewhere, but don't quote me on it.
To clean them up, I remove the meat and scrape them out. Then I boil them over and over in many changes of water. I leave the fibers on the outside, too. The water in the pot turns very brown, but I just pour that off and add new water.
I've never been able to boil till I got clear water, and I haven't noticed that my tank water has been too discolored from it either.
I can get one coconut for $1.69US at my grocery store. That's pretty cheap for two caves.

It sounds like a great idea. I think I'll give it a try. Thanks!

Loachmom....I'll have to get my own tools. I'd be in big trouble if I broke a one of my husband's! He is more territorial about his tools than the Clowns are about their hiding spaces!

Barb wrote:Loachmom....I'll have to get my own tools. I'd be in big trouble if I broke a one of my husband's! He is more territorial about his tools than the Clowns are about their hiding spaces!

Wish I had my own tools. Whenever I get a few together, one of the guys around here 'borrows' them, and I never see them again. I saw some once that had floral print handles. I wonder if that would work...

I've got lots of bogwood in my tank with Jave Fern growing on it. Also, there's two 90 degree black PVC plumbing bends of about 4" internal diameter fitted together to make a kind of twisted 'S', i. e. the two are not in the same plane. This lies on the substrate under bogwwood and gives a nice easy in-out hidey-hole where they can cram in all next to one another. Most of the 10 can fit in there at once if they're feeling really like cosying up.
Being black, it's fairly unobtrusive in the tank.

Martin.

I use PVC pipe I liberated from my husbands teritory (man's shed ). I have 2 - 5 depending on the tank. Of course the clowns (all 8 of them) like to cram into one 3 inch tube a bedtime, go figure. I used non toxic glue to decorate the outside with gravel and sand.

It looks like a trip to the pet store is in order today. These are great ideas. I have never seen java fern or java moss, but I'm relatively new to all of this. I appreciate your ideas. I can't wait to go cave-shopping today!

Loachmom, I attend Donna Dewberry One-Stroke Painting classes. Most of the major craft stores give Donna Dewberry One-Stroke Painting classes (flowers, butterflies, etc.). They always say that you should pick, "The surface of your choice" to bring to class. I'll bet they've never seen tools in class before!

Ann Marie, that's a great picture!